ALOK KUMAR

TENOR

BIOGRAPHY

In the 2018/2019 Season, Alok Kumar debuts with the Metropolitan Opera in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West and covers the role of Rinuccio in the company’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. He then collaborates with composer Ricky Ian Gordon and director Bartlett Sher in developing Gordon’s new opera Intimate Apparel, a co-commission by the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater.

Most recently, Mr. Kumar made several company debuts including at Covent Garden with the Royal Opera House and the London Philharmonic Orchestra creating the role of Chyavana in the world premiere of Ravi Shankar’s opera Sukanya, Don José in Bizet’s Carmen with Michigan Opera Theater, Florida Grand Opera and Musica Viva in Hong Kong, a reprisal of the Duke of Mantua in Palm Beach Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto and il Barbiere in New York City Opera’s production of Respighi’s La Campana Sommersa.

Notable events from previous seasons include Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth under the baton of Emmanuel Plasson, debuts at Canada’s le Domaine Forget International Music Festival and at the Sanibel Music Festival in Florida, a debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a concert of French operatic excerpts in France under the direction of Michel Plasson, his portrayal of Pinkerton in the excerpted love duet from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with the Cincinnati Pops/Cincinnati Opera led by John Morris Russell and a debut as the tenor soloist in the New York premier of Stephen Paulus’ To Be Certain of the Dawn at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium. In the recital forum, Mr. Kumar unveiled a solo recital of Romani-influenced art song at the Ware Center in Lancaster, PA.

An avid proponent of new musical works, Mr. Kumar most recently collaborated with composer Robert Paterson at Weil Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall) performing works which included the world premier of Paterson's Spring Songs. Mr. Kumar premiered the tenor solo in the Thomas Cabaniss Cantata My Song is a Fire and collaborated with director Scott Schwarz and librettist Marc Aceto in Jeffrey Stock’s musical adaptation of E. M. Forster’s A Room with a View. Mr. Kumar recorded the role of Jesus of Nazareth in Marcos Galvany’s operatic tableaux Oh My Son with members of the Washington National Symphony and Washington National Opera Orchestra, members of the Washington National Opera Chorus and the Washington National Cathedral Children’s Choir. He later performed the role of Jesus in the work’s European premier in Spain and reprised the role at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Mr. Kumar has appeared with the Santa Fe Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Opera Delaware, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and Portland Opera Repertory Theater among others and has most frequently portrayed leading roles in the operas of Bizet, Puccini and Verdi.

As a solo concert artist, he has appeared with symphonies and orchestras in Spain, California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Massachusetts, including in Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops for the Richard Rodgers Centennial and in Sanders Theater with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Federico Cortese. Mr. Kumar’s festival appearances include the Italy’s Spoleto Festival, Canada’s Le Domaine Forget International Music Festival, Florida’s Sanibel Music Festival and Colorado’s Crested Butte Music Festival.

Mr. Kumar is a member of the state bars of Massachusetts and New York and maintains a law practice. Born in India and raised in the Hudson Valley, he resides in New York City with his wife.

PROJECTS

INTIMATE APPAREL

Composer - Ricky Ian Gordon

Librettist - Lynn Nottage

In 1905, an African American seamstress supports herself by creating exquisite lingerie for wealthy Manhattan clients. When a letter arrives from a stranger, it awakens a desire within her that leads to the love that she yearned for, but it is nothing like she expected.

This historical romance by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage creates a portrait of a young woman's determination and the true meaning of intimacy, and has been adapted in operatic form by composer Ricky Ian Gordon in collaboration with playwright/librettist Lynn Nottage. The work is a co-commission between the Lincoln Center Theater and the Metropolitan Opera with a presentation conducted by Julian Wachner and stage direction by Bartlett Sher.

SUKANYA

Composer - Ravi Shankar

Librettist – Amit Chaudhury

After a terrible mistake leaves the ancient sage Chyavana blinded, the beautiful princess Sukanya finds herself marrying for the sake of her kingdom. As a pair of swaggering, meddling gods watch this unlikely union blossom, will love grow in the strangest of circumstances?

Taken from the legendary Sanskrit texts of the Mahābhārata, the story of Sukanya has been brought to life in this innovative production with music by Indian music legend Ravi Shankar and combines traditional Indian instruments with Western orchestra and singers. This performance is directed by Curve Associate Director Suba Das and unites dance choreographed by the Aakash Odedra Company.

Production by The Royal Opera and the musicians of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

OH MY SON

Composer and Librettist – Marcos Galvany

This operatic tableau, based on the gospels’ accounts of Jesus Christ’s birth and death, premiered in 2010 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Alok Kumar’s involvement with Oh My Son began with the work’s scheduled 2012 performance at the Vatican and continued through its recording, its 2014 Spain debut and its 2015 presentation at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (WORKSHOP)

Composer – Nathan MatthewsLibrettist – Stephen Pickover

The literary masterpiece by Alexander Dumas (Père) gives rise to a beautiful operatic derivation by Matthews and Pickover. Alok Kumar portrays Albert in the workshop performance of excerpts from the work before a specially invited audience in New York City.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW (WORKSHOP)

A delightful new musical based upon the E. M. Foster's novel by the same name. This multifaceted love story is set in Florence, Italy in 1908. Alok Kumar portrayed the role of the Italian in the workshop performance of excerpts from the work before a specially invited audience in New York City.